Toilet construction

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a toilet construction comprising at least two adjacent toilet cubicles which respectively have a toilet and an access opening which can be closed by means of a door, said toilet cubicles being separated by means of a partition. According to the invention, the partition can be displaced between a separating position in which it separates the toilet cubicles from each other, and an unblocking position in which the two toilet cubicles together form an individual toilet cubicle. Alternatively, the partition can be displaced essentially perpendicularly to its wall plane in a shifted position in which the floor space of one toilet cubicle is enlarged and the floor space of the other toilet cubicle is reduced.

This application is the national stage of PCT/EP03/00664 filed on Jan.23, 2003 and also claims Paris Convention priority of DE 102 04 343.4filed Feb. 01, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a toilet structure comprising at least twoadjacent toilet cubicles each of which has a toilet and an accessopening which can be closed by means of a door, the toilet cubiclesbeing separated by a separating wall.

Toilet structures of this type comprising several toilet cubicles areprovided, in particular, at locations, where a relatively large numberof people want to use a toilet, such as e.g. in public buildings,restaurants, train stations, airports, at events etc. To utilize theavailable space to the maximum and provide a large number of toiletcubicles, the individual toilet cubicles usually have a relatively smallbase area which is sufficient for non-handicapped people. However,people in wheel-chairs usually cannot move into a toilet cubicle to usethe toilet. For this reason, an additional toilet space adapted forhandicapped people in wheel-chairs is provided as an individual,spatially separated facility which is experienced by many people inwheel-chairs as segregation and stigmatisation. A toilet space suitedfor handicapped people requires a relatively large base area, since theperson in the wheel-chair must be able to easily move with his/herwheel-chair in front of the toilet and optionally put the wheel-chaireither on the right-hand or left-hand side next to the toilet to be ableto move from the wheel-chair onto the toilet. Due to the large spacerequirements, the integration of a toilet space suited for handicappedpeople is often undesired in a conventional toilet structure since itreduces the number of toilet cubicles. Moreover, space is notefficiently utilized, since toilets for handicapped people are notfrequently used.

It is the underlying purpose of the invention to provide a toiletstructure of the above-mentioned type which has an integrated toiletspace suited for handicapped people while also providing effectiveutilization of space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved in a first inventive design of the toiletstructure in that the separating wall can be adjusted between aseparating position, in which the toilet cubicles are separated, and arelease position in which the two toilet cubicles combine to form onesingle toilet space.

The invention is based on the fundamental idea of providing the toiletspace for handicapped people not as a separate facility, but to combinetwo normal toilet cubicles into a large toilet space which is suited forhandicapped people, if required, by adjusting, displacing or removingthe separating wall dividing the toilet cubicles. As long as theseparating wall is in its separating position, the toilet cubicles canbe used in the conventional manner. If a person in a wheel-chair wantsto use a toilet, he/she can adjust the separating wall between the twotoilet cubicles using an actuating means which is preferably provided onthe outside of the toilet cubicles. Initiation of the adjusting motionis preceded by checking whether or not both toilet cubicles are free.After adjustment of the separating wall, the person in the wheel-chairhas one single toilet space which has the total base area of both toiletcubicles and includes the two toilets. The toilets are thereby disposedsuch that the person in the wheel-chair can easily move to the rightnext to one toilet or to the left next to the other toilet. In thismanner, the person in the wheel-chair can select the toilet to whichhe/she wants to move towards the right or left out of his/herwheel-chair in a convenient manner. As soon as the person in thewheel-chair has left the toilet, the separation wall returns, preferablyautomatically, into its separating position to once more provide twoindependent toilet cubicles to be used by non-handicapped persons.

To permit entry of the person in a wheel-chair into the toilet space,both access openings of the two adjacent toilet cubicles are preferablydisposed directly next to each other and are separated only by theseparating wall. If the separating wall is in its release position, thetwo access openings combine to form one single enlarged access openinghaving twice the width, which facilitates entry of the person in awheel-chair into the toilet cubicle.

The separating wall may be adjusted in many ways. In one possible designof the invention, the separating wall is formed from several vertical,adjacent wall elements which can each be pivoted about a vertical axis.The wall elements may thereby be interconnected in a hinged manner toform a folding wall. When the separating wall is adjusted from theseparated position into the release position, the individual wallelements are pivoted relative to each other such that they are stackedagainst each other.

To prevent the stack formed by the wall elements from obstructing thetoilet space in the release position of the separating wall, the stackshould abut a side wall of the toilet space in the release position orbe accommodated in a gap of the toilet space. The gap may be covered byan automatically closing door to prevent manipulation of the mechanicaladjusting structure of the separating wall.

In an alternative design, the separating wall may be formed from severalhorizontal, superposed wall elements which can each be pivoted about ahorizontal axis. The wall elements may thereby be interconnected in ahinged manner to form a vertically opening folding wall, and arepreferably stacked on top each other in the release position of theseparating wall. In a particularly preferred manner, the wall elementsare disposed in the ceiling region of the toilet space in the releaseposition of the separating wall, where they do not obstruct motion ofthe person in a wheel-chair in the toilet space. Instead of a verticallyopening folding wall, the wall may be configured as a vertically openingand closing rolling door comprising a plurality of horizontal panelswhich can be wound about a winding axis disposed in the ceiling regionof the toilet space. To ensure that the separating wall has sufficientstability in its separated position, the superposed wall elements orpanels should engage each other in the separating position of theseparating wall thereby preventing mutual displacement of the wallelements perpendicular to the plane of the wall.

In a further design of the invention, the entire separating wall may bedisplaceable substantially in the plane of the wall and through a sidewall of the toilet cubicles or the toilet space into a position outsideof the toilet space. The separating wall may thereby be designed as aone-piece plate. Since the separating wall need not be subdivided intodifferent wall elements, this design advantageously has increasedstability. Arrangement of the separating wall outside of the toiletspace requires, however, corresponding space at that location.

The separating wall may alternatively be formed from a plurality ofadjacent vertical panels which can be pivoted relative to each other anddeflected through approximately 90° at the outer side of the toiletspace such that the separating wall requires only little space outsideof the toilet space when it is in its release position.

In a further development of the invention, the separating wall may beformed from a plurality of adjacent vertical panels which can be woundabout a vertical winding mandrel at the outer side of the toilet space.In this case, the separating wall has the design of a verticallydisposed opening and closing rolling door having vertical panels.

The above-mentioned designs are based on the fundamental idea of forminga toilet space, which is suited for handicapped persons, from the twoadjacent toilet cubicles after adjustment of the separating wall. In analternative design of the invention, the above-mentioned object is alsoachieved in that the separating wall can be adjusted substantiallyperpendicularly to the plane of the wall into a displaced position inwhich the base area of the one toilet cubicle is enlarged and the basearea of the other toilet cubicle is reduced. The toilet space therebyhas the base area of a toilet cubicle and additionally of part of thebase area of the other toilet cubicle, since the separating wall betweenthe two toilet cubicles is not removed but only laterally displaced.

If the individual toilet cubicles are large enough, the lateraldisplacement of the separating wall may produce a toilet space suitedfor handicapped people which meets the corresponding space requirements.

The toilets in the toilet space formed through lateral displacement ofthe separating wall may be disposed such that there is sufficient spaceon both sides of the toilet for a person in a wheel-chair to optionallyposition his/her wheel-chair either on the right or left-hand side ofthe toilet. Toilet cubicles do not usually provide such a space. In afurther development of the invention, the separating wall can thereforebe optionally adjusted in opposite directions. The person in awheel-chair can thereby either optionally extend one toilet cubiclethrough displacement of the separating wall towards the toilet space ordisplace the separating wall in the opposite direction such that theother toilet cubicle is extended into the toilet space throughcorresponding actuation of the actuating means disposed outside of thetoilet cubicles. The toilets are disposed in the toilet cubicles suchthat there is enough space for a wheel-chair on the right-hand side ofthe one toilet and on the left-hand side of the other toilet. The personin a wheel-chair can decide through selection of the adjusting means ofthe separating wall whether he/she wants to use a toilet space wherehe/she can move from the right-hand or left-hand side out of thewheel-chair and onto the toilet.

This design of a toilet structure may also envision the access openingsof the toilet cubicles to be directly adjacent to each other andtogether form one single enlarged access opening when the separatingwall has been displaced. This facilitates access to the toilet space fora person in a wheel-chair. In this position, the toilet cubicle whichwas reduced in size through displacement of the separating wall is nolonger accessible, since its access opening is part of the enlargedaccess opening of the toilet space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further details and features of the invention can be extracted from thefollowing description of an embodiment with reference to the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an inventive toilet structure,wherein the separating wall is in its separating position;

FIG. 2 shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIG. 1 duringadjustment of the separating wall;

FIG. 3 shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIG. 1 wherein theseparating wall is in its release position;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a toilet structure with one firstalternative design of the separating wall;

FIG. 5 shows a view of a second alternative design of the separatingwall;

FIG. 6 a shows a view of a third alternative design of the separatingwall;

FIG. 6 b shows a side view of the separating wall in accordance withFIG. 6 a during adjustment;

FIG. 6 c shows the separating wall in accordance with FIG. 6 a in therelease position;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a toilet structure with a fourthalternative design of the separating wall;

FIG. 8 a shows a view of the separating wall in accordance with a fifthalternative design;

FIG. 8 b shows the detail X of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 9 a shows a plan view of a toilet structure in accordance with asixth alternative design of the separating wall which is in itsseparating position;

FIG. 9 b shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIG. 9 a in afirst phase of adjustment of the separating wall;

FIG. 9 c shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIGS. 9 a and 9 bin a second phase of adjustment of the separating wall;

FIG. 9 d shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIGS. 9 a, 9 band 9 c in the release position of the separating wall;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a toilet structure in accordancewith a seventh alternative design of the separating wall;

FIG. 11 shows a first modification of the toilet structure in accordancewith FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 a shows a second modification of the toilet structure inaccordance with FIG. 10 with the separating wall in the separatingposition;

FIG. 12 b shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIG. 12 a duringadjustment of the separating wall;

FIG. 12 c shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIGS. 12 a and12 b in the release position of the separating wall;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an inventive toilet structure withdisplaceable separating wall in the separating position; and

FIG. 14 shows the toilet structure in accordance with FIG. 13 with theseparating wall in the release position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show perspective views of a toilet structure 10comprising two adjacent toilet cubicles 11. Each toilet cubicle 11 has atoilet 12 with an associated lateral foldable handle 16. A washing means13 (not shown in detail) with a wash basin, hand dryer, mirror and soapdispenser is provided in a gap of each toilet cubicle 11. The two toiletcubicles 11 are separated by a separating wall 15 and each have anaccess opening 19 which can be closed by a door 14 which is in thepresent embodiment a sliding door. The access openings 19 of the twotoilet cubicles 11 are directly adjacent and are subdivided only by theseparating wall 15.

The toilet 12 of the left-hand toilet cubicle 11 of FIG. 1 is disposedon the side wall opposite to the separating wall 15 such that there issufficient space on the right-hand side in front of the washing means 13for a user sitting on the toilet 12 to place a wheel-chair. In thetoilet cubicle 11 on the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the toilet 12 isalso disposed on the side wall opposite to the central separating wall15 such that there is sufficient space on the left-hand side in front ofthe washing means 13 for a user sitting on the toilet 12 to place awheel-chair.

The separating wall 15 in the embodiment shown is formed from twovertical adjacent wall elements 15 a and 15 b. The wall element 15 aabuts the doors 14 on its side facing the access openings 19 and isconnected, on its opposite side disposed substantially in the center ofthe separating wall 15 and in a hinged manner about a vertical axis V₂,to the other wall element 15 b which is disposed, on its opposite side,in a hinged manner about a vertical axis V₁ to be displaced towards thecommon rear wall 18 of the toilet cubicles 11 thereby constituting afolding wall made from two wall elements 15 a, 15 b.

A display 17 is disposed on each outer side of the toilet cubicles 11which indicates to a person located outside whether the respectivetoilet cubicle 11 is occupied or free. At least one of the displays 17has an associated actuating means 17 a. A person in a wheel-chair candisplace, by means of the actuating means 17 a, the separating wall 15from the separating position of FIG. 1 in which the two toilet cubicles11 are separated, into a release position of FIG. 3 in which the twowall elements 15 a and 15 b lie against each other over their entiresurface and abut the rear wall 18 in the region between the holders 16.During adjustment about the vertical axis V₂, the wall element 15 a ispivoted relative to the wall element 15 b which is pivoted about thevertical axis V₁ at the rear wall 18 and at the same time is laterallydisplaced along the rear wall 18 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). In the releaseposition of the separating wall 15 of FIG. 3, one single toilet space11′ is formed which comprises the base area of the two toilet cubicles11 and has one single enlarged access opening 19′ which is formed from acombination of the two adjacent access openings 19 of the toiletcubicles. A person in a wheel-chair can easily enter through theenlarged access opening 19′ into the toilet space 11′ and can chose fromtwo differently arranged toilets 12 next to which the wheel-chair can bedisposed. If he/she disposes his/her wheel-chair next to the left-handtoilet 12 of FIG. 3, he/she can move from the wheel-chair to the leftand onto the toilet 12, whereas if he/she disposes the wheel-chair nextto the toilet 12 on the right-hand side of FIG. 3, he/she can move tothe right and onto the toilet 12.

After use by a person in a wheel-chair, the separating wall returns fromits release position of FIG. 3 into its separating position of FIG. 1 toonce more permit further use of the two toilet cubicles 11 independentlyof each other in the conventional manner.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the separating wall is designedas two-part folding wall with vertical folding or pivot axes. FIG. 4shows a modification of the separating wall 15 which also has two wallelements 15 a, 15 b, which can each be pivoted independently of eachother about a vertical longitudinal central axis V₃ and are located inan upper guidance 20. To adjust the separating wall 15 from itsseparating position into the release position, the two wall elements 15a and 15 b are each pivoted through 90° about their verticallongitudinal central axis V₃ in correspondence with arrows D and arethen displaced along the guidance 20 against the rear wall 18 of thetoilet structure such that they mutually abut with their full surface onthe rear wall 18 in the release position thereby enlarging the toiletspace 11′ as mentioned above.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative design of the separating wall 15 which isformed from two superposed wall elements 22, wherein the lower wallelement 22 has engagement pins 21 on its lower side which engage inrecesses of the floor of the toilet structure in the separating positionof the separating wall. The upper side of the lower wall element 22 isconnected to the upper wall element 22 to be pivotable about ahorizontal axis H₂, the upper wall element being mounted with its upperside to the ceiling of the toilet structure to be pivotable about ahorizontal axis H₁ thereby forming a folding wall with horizontalfolding or pivot axes which can be opened and closed in a verticaldirection.

Although the folding wall of FIG. 5 consists of only two wall elements22, a plurality of wall elements may also be used. FIG. 6 a shows aseparating wall 15 which consists of seven superposed wall elements 22which extend in a transverse direction and are all interconnected in ahinged manner for pivoting about a horizontal axis H. The wall elements22 may be lifted and thereby mutually pivoted (FIG. 6 b) such that theyform a stack in the release position (FIG. 6 c) which is held at theceiling of the toilet structure. The stack of wall elements 22 does notobstruct movement of the person in a wheel-chair within the toilet space11′ since it projects only slightly downwardly from the ceiling.

To prevent the stack formed by the wall elements 22 from protrudingdownwardly from the ceiling of the toilet structure, a storage box 23may be disposed on the toilet structure into which the wall elements 22are lifted, deflected by 90°, and laterally inserted, as indicated byarrows E in FIG. 7.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show a separating wall 15 in the form of a rollingdoor which consists of a plurality of horizontal strip-shaped wallelements 22 which are interconnected in a hinged manner and which can bewound in a conventional manner onto an upper winding axis W (onlyschematically indicated). The wall elements 22 can be slightly adjustedrelative to each other in a vertical direction. In this manner, it ispossible that an upwardly protruding projection 22 a of a wall element22 positively engages in a complementary lower recess 22 b of the wallelement 22 disposed on top thereof (FIG. 8 b, left-hand illustration)thereby improving the stability of the separating wall 15 in theseparating position. If the wall elements 22 are lifted relative to eachother when the separating wall is adjusted, they are released from theirmutual engagement as shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 8 b whichfacilitates winding up thereof.

FIGS. 9 a through 9 d show a design of the separating wall 15, whereinit does not abut the rear wall 18 of the toilet structure but the sidewall of one of the toilet cubicles 11 in its release position. Theseparating wall 15 is thereby also formed from two vertical adjacentwall elements 15 a and 15 b. The wall element 15 a facing the accessopenings 19 can be displaced perpendicularly to its wall plane along aguidance 20 and its end disposed in the center of the toilet structurecarries the wall element 15 b which can be pivoted relative to the wallelement 15 a about a vertical axis V₃. During adjustment of theseparating wall from the separating position of FIG. 9 a, the wallelement 15 a is displaced perpendicularly to its wall plane in atransverse direction of the toilet structure thereby simultaneouslypivoting the wall element 15 b about the vertical axis V₃ until it issupported with its full surface on the wall element 15 a. In theirsuperposed state, the two wall elements 15 a and 15 b are stored next tothe toilet 12 on the right-hand side of FIG. 9 d such that they abut theside wall 18′ and do not impair positioning of the wheel-chair next tothe toilet 12. To return to the separating position, the wall element 15is again displaced along the guidance into its initial position therebysimultaneously pivoting the wall element 15 b about the vertical axis V₃until it lies in a common plane with the wall element 15 a.

In the embodiments shown above, the separating wall was formed fromseveral individual parts which can be pivoted relative to each other.FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the separating wall 15 is formed byone single wall element which can be displaced in the plane of the wall(indicated by arrow A). The separating wall 15 may be displaced towardsthe outside through a gap in the rear wall 18 of the toilet structureand out of the toilet space 11′ such that, in the release position, itis disposed completely outside of the toilet cubicles or the toiletspace. This ensures high stability of the separating wall 15 since itmay be designed as a one-piece component but requires relatively largespace outside of the toilet structure in its release position. This canbe avoided in the design of FIG. 11, wherein the separating wall isformed from several panels 24 which are disposed about a vertical axisand can be pivoted relative to each other and are deflected throughapproximately 90° outside of the rear wall 18 using a deflecting device23 such that, in its release position, the separating wall is disposedsubstantially parallel to the rear wall 18 of the toilet structureoutside thereof.

FIGS. 12 a, 12 b and 12 c show a further development of the design ofFIG. 11. The separating wall 15 formed from a plurality of vertical,adjacent panels 24 which can be pivoted relative to each other about avertical axis, can be wound onto a winding mandrel 25 disposed outsideof the toilet space 11′ behind the rear wall 18, wherein the panels 24are preferably in mutual engagement in the separating position of theseparating wall of FIG. 12 as explained in connection with FIG. 8 b.

While the embodiments shown above are based on the fundamental idea ofadjusting the separating wall 15 such that the enlarged toilet space 11′is formed by the entire surface of the two toilet cubicles 11, FIGS. 13and 14 show a different principle. In accordance with FIG. 13, thetoilet structure has the construction as explained above in connectionwith FIG. 1, to which reference is hereby made, except for theseparating wall 15. The separating wall 15 is designed as a one-piecewall which can be adjusted in both directions perpendicularly to itswall plane in accordance with the double arrow B.

FIG. 14 shows the end position of the separating wall 15 afterdisplacement in the direction of the left-hand or upper toilet cubiclein accordance with FIG. 13. In the displaced position of the separatingwall 15, the two access openings 19 combine into one single enlargedaccess opening 19′ into a toilet space 11′ which comprises the surfaceof the right-hand lower toilet cubicle 11 of FIG. 13 and approximatelyhalf of the base area of the left-hand upper toilet cubicle 11 of FIG.13. The space of the left-hand upper toilet cubicle of FIG. 13 isreduced in size such that it can no longer be used, in particular sinceit no longer has an access opening. The toilet space 11′ formed andenlarged through adjustment of the separating wall 15 in accordance withFIG. 14 has a toilet 12 onto which the person in a wheel-chair can moveout of the wheel-chair to the right-hand side. If the person in thewheel-chair wants to move to the left-hand side out of his/herwheel-chair and onto the toilet, he/she must displace the separatingwall 15 into the opposite direction before entering the toilet space 11′such that the toilet space 11′ is formed by the left-hand upper toiletcubicle of FIG. 13 and part of the right-hand lower toilet cubicle. Atoilet space 11′ of this type includes an appropriately arranged toilet12.

1. A toilet structure comprising: a first toilet cubicle having a firsttoilet, a first access opening, and a first door for closing said firstaccess opening; a second toilet cubicle adjacent to said first toiletcubicle, said second toilet cubicle having a second toilet, a secondaccess opening, and a second door for closing said second accessopening; and a separating wall disposed between said first toiletcubicle and said second toilet cubicle, said separating wall having aseparation position in which said first toilet cubicle is separated fromsaid second toilet cubicle, said separating wall also having a releaseposition in which said first toilet cubicle and said second toiletcubicle are combined into one common toilet space, wherein said firstaccess opening is directly adjacent to said second access opening, saidfirst and said second access openings combining to form one enlargedcommon access opening in said release position of aid separating wall.2. The toilet structure of claim 1, wherein said separating wallcomprises several vertical, adjacent wall elements which can each bepivoted about a vertical axis.
 3. The toilet structure of claim 2,wherein said wall elements are connected to each other in a hingedmanner.
 4. The toilet structure of claim 2, wherein said wall elementsare stacked against each other in said release position.
 5. The toiletstructure of claim 2, wherein said wall elements abut a side wall ofsaid common toilet space in said release position.
 6. The toiletstructure of claim 1, wherein said the separating wall is formed fromseveral horizontal wall elements which are disposed on top of each otherand can each be pivoted about a horizontal axis.
 7. The toilet structureof claim 6, wherein said wall elements are connected to each other in ahinged manner.
 8. The toilet structure of claim 6, wherein said wallelements are stacked against each other in said release position.
 9. Thetoilet structure of claim 6, wherein said wall elements are disposed ina ceiling region of said common toilet space in said release position.10. The toilet structure of claim 6, wherein adjacent wall elements arein mutual engagement in said separating position of said separatingwall.
 11. The toilet structure of claim 1, wherein said separating wallcan be displaced in its entirety substantially in a plane of saidseparating wall.
 12. The toilet structure of claim 11, wherein saidseparating wall is disposed outside of said common toilet space in saidrelease position.
 13. The toilet structure of claim 12, wherein saidseparating wall comprises a plurality of vertical, adjacent panels whichcan be deflected through approximately 90° at an outer side of saidcommon toilet space.
 14. The toilet structure of claim 12, wherein saidseparating wall comprises a plurality of vertical, adjacent panels whichcan be wound onto a winding mandrel at an outer side of said commontoilet space.
 15. A toilet structure comprising: a first toilet cubiclehaving a first toilet, a first access opening, and a first door forclosing said first access opening; a second toilet cubicle adjacent tosaid first toilet cubicle, said second toilet cubicle having a secondtoilet, a second access opening, and a second door for closing saidsecond access opening; and a separating wall disposed between said firsttoilet cubicle and said second toilet cubicle, said separating wallhaving a first position in which said first toilet cubicle is separatedfrom said second toilet cubicle, said separating wall also having asecond position displaced substantially perpendicularly to a plane ofsaid separating wall in said first position such that said first toiletcubicle is enlarged and said second toilet cubicle is reduced in size,wherein said first access opening is directly adjacent to said secondaccess opening, said first and said second access openings combining toform one enlarged common access opening in said second position of saidseparating wall.
 16. The toilet structure of claim 15, wherein saidseparating wall can be displaced in opposite directions.